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Robert J. Allen, Jr., MD

Robert J. Allen, Jr., MD

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Breast cancers and conditions
  • Head and neck cancers
  • Lymphedema

My Specialties

  • Microsurgical breast reconstruction
  • Head and neck reconstruction
  • Lymphedema surgery
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Dr. Allen, Jr.'s Office Information
Languages: English
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About Me

What I Do at MSK
  • Assistant Attending Surgeon
Get To Know Me

I am a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with extensive clinical experience in all facets of breast reconstruction, with a special interest in microsurgical breast reconstruction. I also have significant experience and interest in oncologic head and neck reconstruction.

I perform procedures at Memorial Hospital and the Josie Robertson Surgery Center, and I see patients at MSK Basking Ridge in New Jersey.

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Cancer treatments can affect people on both a physical and psychosocial level. My goal is to help my patients return to how they were before their treatments, in terms of form and function. I find that this can often be best accomplished by transplanting a person’s own tissues from one area of the body to the affected area using microsurgical techniques. This provides a safe and natural approach to reconstruction.

I specialize in the microsurgical transfer of skin and fat (without muscle) for autologous breast reconstruction using the ideal donor site for each patient. These procedures include the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP), superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA), profunda artery perforator (PAP), lateral thigh perforator (LTP), lumbar artery perforator (LAP), gluteal artery perforator GAP (GAP), and thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flaps, among others.

Since the effects of cancer and its treatment are wide-ranging, I develop unique approaches for all of my patients that consider their individual needs and desires related to their return to daily life after surgery.

My Role at MSK

A plastic and reconstructive surgeon is a doctor with special training in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. These procedures restore function and appearance.

Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Breast cancers and conditions
  • Head and neck cancers
  • Lymphedema

My Specialties

  • Microsurgical breast reconstruction
  • Head and neck reconstruction
  • Lymphedema surgery
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, Medical University of South Carolina

Residencies

  • Plastic Surgery - NYU Langone Medical Center

Awards and Honors

  • Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctor (2024)
  • Top Doctors New York Metro Area, Castle Connolly (2023)
  • Castle Connolly: America's Top Doctors (2023)

Fellowships

  • Microsurgery - Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Insurance Information

Understanding your insurance options is an important part of managing your cancer care. We have relationships with many common healthcare providers and plans.

Aetna

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant

Aetna Medicare Advantage (MTA and NYC retirees only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Anthem BCBS and other BCBS licensee plans

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

See updates

Anthem BCBS Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

See updates

Carrum Health

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

Cigna

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Connecticare

In Network Coverage Type
POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.

Emblem Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Emblem Medicare Advantage (Medicare Choice PPO Network and VIP Prime Network Only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Empire Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Empire Plan / NYSHIP (Blue Cross/UnitedHealthcare split plan)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

Fidelis

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.

Fidelis Managed Medicaid & HARP

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Fidelis Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

First Health

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Healthfirst

In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.

Healthfirst Managed Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Healthfirst Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

Healthsmart

In Network Coverage Type
PPO EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (HMO)

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier I (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier II (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

Horizon Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Husky CT Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Magnacare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO

Straight NJ Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Straight NY Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government

Multiplan/Beech Street/PHCS

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

MVP

In Network Coverage Type
PPO/OAP

Non-Participating Plans with Out of Network Benefits

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

NYC Medicare Advantage Plus for City Employees

In Network Coverage Type
TBD

Oscar

In Network Coverage Type
HMO/EPO

Oxford

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, EPO

World Trade Center Health Program (WTC)

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Qualcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Tricare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

UMR

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS

United Healthcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Don't see your carrier or plan? We can help you understand your coverage.

If you don't have health insurance or are worried that your care may not be fully covered, our financial assistance programs may be able to help.

If you have questions about insurance, call us at 646-497-9176.

Make an Appointment

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Current Patients
Request an appointment by logging on to MyMSK or calling your doctor’s office. If you aren’t registered for MyMSK, call 646-227-2593 for your Enrollment ID.

Contact and Location

Dr. Allen, Jr. sees patients at two locations.

Office Phone
Location
Basking Ridge, NJ
New York, NY
Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge
136 Mountain View Boulevard Basking Ridge NJ 07920
Get Directions
David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
530 East 74th Street New York NY 10021
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Looking to see a doctor at a different location? See all MSK locations.

Colleagues

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.

See all Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Service doctors

Clinical Trials

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Find a Clinical Trial for You

Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.

You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.

Search clinical trials

Research and Publications

Allen RJ Jr, Cheng MH. Lymphedema surgery: Patient selection and an overview of surgical techniques. J Surg Oncol. 2016 Feb 5. doi: 10.1002/jso.24170. [Epub ahead of print] Review.

Allen RJ Jr, Canizares O Jr, Scharf C, Nguyen PD, Thanik V, Saadeh PB, Coleman SR, Hazen A. Grading Lipoaspirate: Is there an optimal density for fat grafting? Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013 Jan;131(1):38-45. PMID: 23271517. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23271517.

Allen RJ Jr, LoTempio MM, Craigie JE, Allen RJ Sr. Transplantation in Identical Twins: Another Option for Breast Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008 Oct;122(4):1019-23. PMID: 18827632. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18827632.

Nelson JA, Shamsunder MG, Myers PL, Polanco TO, Coriddi MR, McCarthy CM, Matros E, Dayan JH, Disa JJ, Mehrara BJ, Pusic AL, Allen RJ Jr. A Matched Preliminary Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcomes After Autologous and Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Apr 3. Online ahead of print. PMID: 35366700

Anolik RA, Nelson JA, Rosen EB, Disa J, Matros E, Allen RJ Jr. Immediate Dental Implant Placement in the Oncologic Setting: A Conceptual Framework. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2021 Sep 17;9(9):e3671. PMID: 34548994

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Myers PL, Nelson JA, Allen RJ Jr. Alternative flaps in autologous breast reconstruction. Gland Surg. 2021 Jan;10(1):444-459. Review. PMID: 33634002

Allen RJ Jr, Nelson JA, Polanco TO, Shamsunder MG, Ganly I, Boyle J, Rosen E, Matros E. Short-term Outcomes following Virtual Surgery Assisted Immediate Dental Implant Placement (IDIP) in Free Fibula Flaps for Oncologic Mandibular Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2020 Dec;146(6):768e-776e. PMID: 33234971

Allen RJ Jr, Sobti N, Patel AR, Matros E, McCarthy CM, Dayan JH, Disa JJ, Mehrara BM, Morrow M, Pusic AL, Nelson JA. Laterality and Patient-Reported Outcomes following Autologous Breast Reconstruction with Free Abdominal Tissue: An 8-year Examination of BREAST-Q Data. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2020 Nov;146(5):964-975. PMID: 33141527

 

Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Allen, Jr.’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

See all on PubMed

Disclosures

Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.

MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.

Robert J. Allen, Jr. discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

No disclosures meeting criteria for time period


If you’re a patient at MSK and would like more information about your doctor’s external relationships, please talk with your doctor.

The information published here is a complement to other publicly reported data and is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.

This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2023 through disclosure submission in spring 2024). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.

Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at [email protected].


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